Los Libertadores (tel. 1/423-3600) offers two direct daily buses from the Bogotá bus station to Villa de Leyva, at 4:30am and 2:20pm. Trip time is about 4 hours. Several other bus companies also offer direct routes, especially on weekends and holidays, but they often stop for passengers along the way, making for a long ride. If you can't make one of these two routes, take one of the buses to Tunja, which depart every 5 minutes or so, and from Tunja you can catch a 45-minute colectivo to Villa de Leyva. (At the Tunja station, head upstairs, and then outside and board any of the large vans labeled VILLA DE LEYVA.) All buses and colectivos will drop you off 3 blocks from the main plaza in Villa de Leyva, walking distance from most hotels. If you have a lot of luggage, you may want to consider taking a short taxi ride, especially if you’re staying in one of the many farms or inns around town.
Visitor Information
The Villa de Leyva tourist office is located right off the main plaza at Carrera 9 no. 13–04 (www.villadeleyva.net; tel. 8/732-0232) and is open daily from 8am to 5pm. If you plan to be in town for at least a couple of days, you might want to invest in the English/French Villa de Leyva Tourist Guide, available for COP$12,000 at the tourist office and in some hotels.
Tour Operators
In addition to the sights listed below, walking tours and day trips into the Boyacá countryside are available with numerous tour companies. Colombian Highlands, Carrera 10 no. 21, Finca Renacer (www.colombianhighlands.com; tel. 8/732-1862), is run by bilingual biologist Oscar Gilede and offers many eco- and adventure tours that can be done by car or horse, including hiking trips along Musica and Guane trails and trips to the Sierra Nevada de Cocuy. He also runs the clean Hostal Renacer, a pleasant hostel where the office is located. Cycling agency Ciclo Trip (www.ciclotrip.com; tel. 320/899-4442), Carrera 9 no. 14–101, offers mountain-bike cross-country tours in the countryside outside of Villa de Leyva, including to waterfalls and wineries. They use Trek MTB bikes, which they also rent.
If you're looking for horseback-riding opportunities, contact Hacienda Flamingo (tel. 8/732-0538; ask for Rafael Orejuela or Patricia Delgado). They rent out horses by the hour or day. Your hotel should also be able to provide you with information regarding horse tours, which usually run about COP$30,000 per hour.
At the bus terminal, taxis run tours to attractions outside of town, like El Fósil and Ráquira. Most roundtrips are around COP$150,000, but be prepared to negotiate.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
